Enclosed electric connector support



April 1965 D. F. DOWNEY 0 3,177,460

ENCLOSED ELECTRIC CONNECTOR SUPPORT Filed Oct. 5, 1961 INVENTOR. Dav/p.F'Dowusy BY HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,177,460 ENCLUSEDELECTRIC (IQNNECTGR SUFPGRT David F. Downey, Stamford, Conn, assignor toElectrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn, a corporation of DelawareFiled Oct. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 143,1tl6 7 Claims. (@l. 339-119) Myinvention relates to electric connectors and more particularly to aconnector specially designed for use in combination with a vacuumcleaner of the tank type wherein the motor-fan unit and dust bag arecontained in a housing which is remote from the suction nozzle and isconnected thereto by means of a flexible suction hose.

In vacuum cleaners of this type it is frequently desirable to provide amotor-driven brush in the nozzle and consequently it is necessary tosupply electric current to this motor. This may be done conveniently byhaving an electric cord connected to the housing of the motor-fan unitand running along the suction hose, preferably secured thereto by meansof removable clamps. However, if the electric conductor is continuousfrom the housing to the nozzle, it is necessary to unclamp the cord fromthe hose whenever it is desired to use a non-electric noz zle. Thisinconvenience may be obviated by providing a separable connector in thecord adjacent to the end of the hose which is connected to the nozzle.Thus, if it is desired to use a non-electric nozzle, the cord may beseparated at this point and the portion thereof which is clamped to thehose may be permitted to remain on the hose at all times.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide an improvedelectrical connector for this purpose.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription considered in connection with the accompanying drawingswhich form part of the specification and of which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing my improved connector in combination with atank type vacuum cleaner;

FIG. 2 is a perspective View of the connector illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a holder forming part of the connectorillustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the holder shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an electric receptacle forming par-t ofthe connector shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a side view, partially in cross-section, of the completeconnector shown in FIG. 2, together with an electric plug connectedthereto.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, reference character it)designates generally a vacuum cleaner housing containing adust-separating member in the form of a bag 12 and a motor-fan unit 14,the electric motor of the latter being supplied with current through aflexible cord 16. A flexible suction hose 18 is removably connected tothe housing Ill so as to discharge into the dust bag 12. The other endof the hose is connected to a rigid tubular member 20 to which differenttypes of suction nozzles may be removably connected. In FIG. 1 there isshown ,a nozzle 22 to which is pivotally connected a rigid tubularhandle member 24, the tubular member 26 being removably connected to theupper end of the handle 24.

Nozzle 22 includes an electric motor 26 which is supplied with currentthrougha cord 28 which extends through a tube 30 which preferably issecured to the exterior wall of tubular handle 24. Conveniently, thehandle and tube may be a single molded piece. Cord 28 extends for asufficient distance from the upper end of tube 30 so as to reach beyondthe end of tubular member 20, as is clearlys'howri in FIG. 1, and atthis end is provided with an electric connector in the form of a maleplug 32.

This plug is adapted to be detachably connected to an electric connectorshown as a female receptacle 34 which is rcmovably secured to the hose1d by means of a holder designated generally by reference character 36.An electric cord 38 is connected to the receptacle 34, and is providedwith several clamps 49 by means of which it may be removably secured atspaced points to the hose 1?. The opposite end of cord 38 is providedwith a plug 42 which may be received in a suitable receptacle mounted onthe vacuum cleaner housing 10 and supplied with current from the cord16.

If it is desired to use the vacuum cleaner with a nozzle other than thatshown in FIG. 1, the plug 32 may be disconnected from the receptacle 34and the tubular member 29 disconnected from the handle 24. The othernozzel may then be connected to the tubular member. The cord 38 may bepermitted to remain on the hose 18, where it will be immediatelyavailable for use the next time it is desired to connect the hose to theelectric nozzle 22. If the separable connectors 32 and 34 were notprovided, it would be necessary to remove the cord 38 from the hose andstore it with the nozzle 22 and when it were again desired to use thenozzle 22, it would be necessary to place each of the several clamps illback on the hose.

As is shown more particularly in FIGS. 2, through 6, my improvedelectrical connector comprises the holder 36 and the electric receptacle34. The former is preferably made of a relatively rigid thermoplasticmaterial with spring-like qualities, such as Delrin, an acetal resinmade by Du Pont. It comprises a box-like portion 46 having a pair ofside Walls 43, a bottom wall Stl and a rear end Wall 52. Extendingupwardly from the side walls 48 is a pair of arcuate resilient arms 54and the space within the box-like portion 46 is in open communicationwith the space between the arcuate arms. The diametric distance betweenthe arms 54 is slightly less than the diameter of hose 18 and theirresiliency is such that they may be spread suiiiciently to permit thehose to be introduced between the ends of the arms, thereupon snuglyembracing the hose. The end wall 52 is formed with a slotted opening 56which is closed at the bottom and open at the top edge of the end wall.The opposite or front end of the box-like portion at is open and thebottom wall 54) adjacent this open end is formed with an undercut orkeyhole slot 58.

Electric receptacle 34 comprises suitable female contacts receivedwithin a casing preferably made of a soft rubber-like material which hasa long flex life and a relatively high coefficient of friction, such asvinyl. The major portion of receptacle 34 is proportioned to fit snuglywithin the box-like portion 46 of the holder 36. It is also formed witha collar 6d into the center of which the cord 38 extends. The collar 64)is formed with an annular groove 62 immediately adjacent to the mainbody of the receptacle which is adapted to receive the edges of wall 52which bound the slotted opening 56 so as to anchor the receptacleagainst axial movement within the box-like portion 46.

The end of receptacle 34 opposite to the collar 60 is formed with arecess 64 for receiving the plug 32 and this recess is in line with theopen end of the box-like portion-46. Integral with the receptacle 34 isa flap 66 which is connected to the receptacle along its upper edge. Theopposite edge of the flap is provided with a tab 68 having a widthsubstantially equal to that of the undercut portion of the keyhole slot58 in the bottom wall 50 of the box-like portion. As is shown in FIG. 2,when the plug 32 is not connected, the flap 66 serves to close the openend of the box-like portion, the tab 68 being received within theundercut portion of the keyhole slot 58 where it is retained by virtueof the fact that it is wider than the entrance portion of the slot. Whenit is desired to 3 connect the plug 32, the tab 68 may be grasped and,by virtue of the flexible nature of the material of which it is made, itmay be pulled out of the keyhole slot to the position shown in FIG. 6.When the plug 32 is then inserted, the flap will lie along theupper sideof the plug.

The upper surface of receptacle 34 is formed with a plurality oftransversely extending ridges70, the upper edges of which are arcuateand preferably serrated, as

shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. When the receptacle 34 is received within thehollow portion 46 these ridges 70 extend into the space between theresilient arms 54. When the holder 36 is secured to the hose 18 byspreading the arms 54 sufliciently for them to embrace the hose, theserrated edges of the ridges 70 are in contact with the outer surface ofthe hose and due to the serrations and to. the frictional nature of thematerial of which the receptacle 34 is made,

3. Anelectric connector assembly including a holder made of relativelyrigid material, said holder, having a box-like connector'receivingportion and a pair of arcuate resilient arms extending therefrom forembracing a supporting member, an electric connectorremovably receivedwithin said box-like portion, an insulated electric cord connected toone end of said connector, said box-like portionbeing formed with aslotted opening through which said cord'extends, electric contacts atthe other end of said connector, said box-like portion being formed withan opening aligned with said other'end through which may be insertedand-removed a second electric connector 7 to be connected to'anddisconnectedfrom' the first-mentend to resist axial displacement of theholder with respect to the hose. However, the forward ridge may beslightly lower in the center'than the others so as to be relieved ofpressure against the hose in order to prevent collapse of this end ofthe receptacle in which the recess 64 is formed. i

The receptacle 34 may be assembled within the holder 36 when the latteris removed from the hose by moving the receptacle into the relativelylarge space between the arms 54 and then moving it downwardly into thebox-like portion 46. At the same time the collar 60 enters the slottedopening 56 in the rear wall, the edges of the wall I being receivedwithin the groove 62. Thus, the parts may be assembled without the useof any tool and no fastening means is required to retain them inassembled condition. When the holder is clamped on the hose, thereceptacle is positively secured in the holder, and when the latter isremoved from the hose the friction of the walls in the groove 62 isample to hold the receptacle in place,

While I have shown one more or less specific embodiment of my invention,it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes ofillustration only and that the scope of my invention is not to belimited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What I claimis: V

1. An electric connector assembly including aholder;

made of relatively rigid material, said holder having a box-likeconnector receiving portion and a pair of arcuate resilient armsextending'therefrom for embracing a supporting member, an electricconnector including an insulating'cover enclosing electric contacts atone end thereof removably received within said box-like portionpaninsulated-electric cord extending from the opposite end.

of said connector, said cord including conductors contioned connector, aflexible flap integralwith said firstmentioned connector adjacent tosaid other .end for closing'said aligned opening to cover said contactswhen the opening is not occupied by the second connector, and a tabextending from the end of said flap, said box-like portion having. anundercut slot in a wall thereof. adjacent to said aligned opening forreceiving said tab to hold said flap in closed position, said tabextending through said slot to be accessible for manually moving saidflap out of said aligned opening. I

4. An electric connector assembly including a holder made of relativelyrigid material, said holder having a box-like connector receivingportion and a pair of arcuate resilient arms extending'therefrom forembracing a cylindrical supporting member, the interior of said box-likeportion being in open communication with the space between said arms, anelectric connector including an insulating cover of relatively softrubber-like material enclosing electric contacts at one end thereofremovably received'within said box-like portion, the surface of saidcover facing the space between said arms being arcuate for'frictionalengagement with said cylindrical supporting member, an insulatedelectriccord extending from the opposite end of said connector, saidcord including conductors connected to said contacts within said cover,said box-like portion being formed with a slotted opening :through whichsaid cord extends, and said box-like portion being formed with anopening aligned with said one end through which may be inserted andremoved an electric connector to be connected to the firstementionedelectric connector; V I p 5. An electric connector assembly including aholder made of relatively rigid material, said holder having a box-likeconnector receiving portion and a pair of arcuate nected to saidcontacts within said cover, saidbox-likie portion being formed with aslotted opening through which said cord extends, and said box-likeportion being formed with an opening aligned with said one end through,which may be inserted and removed an electric connector to be connectedto. and disconnected from the first-mentioned electric connector.

resilient armsextending therefrom-for embracing a cylindrical supportingmember, the-interior of said box-like portion being in opencommunication with the space between said arms, an electric connector ofrelatively soft rubber-like material removably received within saidboxlike portion, a plurality of transverse ridges on the surface of saidconnector facing the space between said arms, the

outer surfaces of said ridges being arcuate and serrated for frictionalengagement with said cylindrical supporting 1 member, an" insulatedelectric cord connected to one end 2. An'electric connector assembly,including a holderv a made of relatively rigidmaterial, said ,holderhaving. a

box-like connector receiving portion and a pair of arcuate of saidconnector, said box-like 'portionbeing formed with a slotted openingthrough which said cord extends, elecresilient arms extending therefromfor embracing a supporting member, an electric connectorremovablyreceived within said. box-like portion, an insulated electriccord connected to one end of said connecton said box-like portion beingformed with a slotted opening through which said cord extends, electric,contacts at the other end of 'said connector, said box-like portionbeing formed with an openinga'lignedwith saidzother end th'rough'whi'chmay be inserted and removed a second electric connector to be connectedto and disconnected from the first-mentioned connector, and a flexibleflap integral with said first-mentric contacts at the other end of saidconnector, and said box-likefportion being formed with an .openingaligned with said other end through which may be inserted a sec- 7 0ndconnector to be connected tothe first-mentioned connector.

tioned connector adjacent to said other'end'for'closing said alignedopening to cover said contacts when the open-' ing is not occupied bythe secondconnector;

wall bounding said slotted opening to anchor said connector within saidbox-like portion, electric contacts at the other end of said connector,said box-like portion being formed with an opening aligned with saidother end through which may be inserted and removed an electricconnector to be connected to and disconnected from the first-mentionedconnector, and a flexible flap integral with said first-mentionedconnector adjacent to said other end for closing said aligned opening tocover said contacts when the opening is not occupied by the secondconnector.

7. An electric connector assembly including a holder made of relativelyrigid material, said holder having a box-like connector receivingportion and a pair of arcuate resilient arms extending therefrom forembracing a supporting member, the interior of said box-like portionbeing in open communication with the space between said arms, anelectric connector of relatively soft rubber-like material removablyreceived within said box-like portion, a plurality of transverse ridgeson the surface of said plug facing the space between said arms, theouter surfaces of 20 said ridges being arcuate and serrated forfrictional engagement with said cylindrical supporting member, aninsulated electric cord connected to one end of said connector, saidbox-like portion being formed with a slotted opening through which saidcord extends, said connector being formed with an annular grooveadjacent to said one end and concentric with said cord, said groovereceiving edges of the wall bounding said slotted opening to anchor saidconnector within said box-like portion, electric contacts at the otherend of said connector, and said box-like portion being formed with anopening aligned with said other end through which may be inserted asecond connector to be connected to the first-mentioned connector.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,182,446 Nelson Dec. 5, 1939 2,292,140 Lofgren Aug. 4, 1942 2,332,846Fladd Oct. 26, 1943 2,756,402 Haworth et al. July 24, 1956 2,975,391Beede et al Mar. 14, 1961 3,014,194 Berglund Dec. 19, 1961 3,048,810Steen Aug. 7, 1962

1. AN ELECTRIC CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A HOLDER MADE OF RELATIVELYRIGID MATERIAL, SAID HOLDER HAVING A BOX-LIKE CONNECTOR RECEIVINGPORTIONS AND A PAIR OF ARCUATE RESILIENT ARMS EXTENDING THEREFROM FOREMBRACING A SUPPORTING MEMBER, AN ELECTRIC CONNECTOR INCLUDING ANINSULATING COVER ENCLOSING ELECTRIC CONTACTS AT ONE END THEREOFREMOVABLY RECEIVED WITHIN SAID BOX-LIKE PORTION, AN INSULATED ELECTRICCORD EXTENDING FROM THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID CONNECTOR, SAID CORDINCLUDING CONDUCTORS CONNECTED TO SAID CONTACTS WITHIN SAID COVER, SAIDBOX-LIKE PORTION BEING FORMED WITH A SLOTTED OPENING THROUGH WHICH SAIDCORD EXTENDS, AND SAID BOX-LIKE PORTION BEING FORMED WITH AN OPENINGALIGNED WITH SAID ONE END THROUGH WHICH MAY BE INSERTED AND REMOVED ANELECTRIC CONNECTOR TO BE CONNECTED TO AND DISCONNECTED FROM THEFIRST-MENTIONED ELECTRIC CONNECTOR.